VietnamPlus reports that China's installed solar capacity reached 1.286 billion kW at the end of July 2026, surpassing coal for the first time. Coal remains important for reliable supply and grid stability.
Original article: Điện Mặt Trời trở thành nguồn điện có quy mô lắp đặt lớn nhất Trung Quốc
On October 7, 2026, VietnamPlus cited figures from China's National Energy Administration showing that installed solar capacity reached 1.286 billion kW at the end of July 2026. Solar surpassed coal for the first time to become the country's largest power source by installed capacity, equivalent to the capacity of 57 Three Gorges hydropower plants.
The report says solar supplies more than 1 kWh out of every 8 kWh of electricity used in China. It serves households, electric vehicles and computing centers, while more than 8.3 million households own distributed solar systems.
China has developed a complete solar industrial supply chain, helping lower electricity production costs. According to the China Photovoltaic Industry Association, at the end of 2025 China accounted for 96%, 96.2%, 91.3% and 80.1% of global manufacturing capacity for polysilicon, silicon wafers, photovoltaic cells and modules, respectively.
The article emphasizes the considerable difference between installed capacity and actual electricity generation. Solar output depends on daylight and weather, making it intermittent and variable, with substantially fewer annual utilization hours than coal power.
Coal remains important for ensuring electricity supply, adjusting to demand and maintaining grid stability. It also supports the system during extreme weather and peak electricity demand, even as solar leads in installed capacity.
